Taxi rank plan to aid 'vulnerable' Shrewsbury revellers
A new taxi rank could be opened in Shrewsbury and priority given to "vulnerable" people in an effort to make the town safer at night.
Shrewsbury's Business Improvement District is working with a number of groups in the town to drive forward the scheme, which also aims to get more taxi operators out at night and to set up a rank at Shoplatch outside the Market Hall.
The group is in negotiations with private taxi firms which operate in the town, Pubwatch members, plus the police, Shropshire Council and Street Pastors to help get people home safely after a night out.
Part of that process involves getting more taxi drivers out and about at times when people are trying to get home from a night on the town.
It has also been agreed that Street Pastors who have identified vulnerable people – such as those who have drunk too much or lone women – should be able to make priority arrangements to get them home.
James Hitchin, chairman of Pubwatch and a Shrewsbury BID board member, said: "We believe working collectively will make a difference and enable us to find solutions.
"I am delighted that private hire operators and taxi owners have also joined Pubwatch to work with local licensed premises to share information and to help keep the town safe."
Inspector Ed Hancox, Policing Inspector for Shrewsbury and surrounding areas, said: "We fully support Shrewsbury BID in this work.
"We know that partnerships can be effective and this can be seen from the work that achieved Shrewsbury's Purple Flag Status for its safe and welcoming night-time economy.
"It is in everyone's interest that this continues and the latest work, led by the BID, will help us to do this."
Frances Darling, Shropshire Council's trading standards and licensing operations manager, added: "Safeguarding vulnerable people is a key priority for the Council and the Licensing Team.
"We recognise the valuable role that Shrewsbury BID is playing to bring together organisations, businesses and volunteers to enhance what we already do in this respect.
"Getting people home safely, after they have enjoyed a night out in Shrewsbury, is clearly desirable and we are committed to supporting the BID's efforts to improve this."
The issue of establishing a permanent rank in Shrewsbury is one that operators have raised in the past, and in 2015 drivers held a protest over the matter.
At present, the only permanent rank is outside Shrewsbury Station, with drivers having to wait in lay-bys or at the side of roads for customers. Sites such as Claremont Street and Mardol have previously been proposed as possible locations.
